#504: Conyers Codel to Haiti (fwd)

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From: Levan, Carl <Carl.Levan@mail.house.gov>

Dear Corbettland,
Here are the press releases from the Congressional delegation that was just
in Haiti.  We hope to have a trip report available on the web soon.

Best,
Carl LeVan


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 1999
Rep. Conyers Leading Congressional Delegation to Haiti
Bipartisan Mission Will Look at Election Preparations, 
Human Rights and Counter-Narcotics

	(Washington, D.C.) -- Congressman John Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member
of the House Judiciary Committee and Dean of the Congressional Black Caucus,
departed for Haiti today with a Congressional delegation (CODEL) to Haiti on
a fact finding mission looking at preparations for elections now set for
December.  "Haiti is moving towards democracy at its own pace," said
Conyers.  "It has made some important progress since the restoration of
democracy but the hurdles to get here have been substantial.  This
delegation will examine the challenges still facing Haiti and determine what
the United States can do to help."

	Rep. Conyers, who travels to Haiti frequently, will be joined by
Reps. Tom Campbell (R-CA), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Earl Hilliard (D-AL) and
Delegates Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS) and Donna Christian-Christensen (D-VI).
The delegation will be meeting with President Preval and other high-level
government officials.  It will also be meet with Haitian human rights
organizations, indigenous election monitoring groups and various NGO's.  

	"In the next elections, we want to make sure the setbacks are
minimized and the consolidation of democracy moves forward.  To this effect,
we hope to observe preparations for the elections being undertaken by the
police, the Provisional Electoral Council and international observers.  We
will also do our best to gauge the public's confidence in the electoral
process."

# # # #



FOR IMMEIDATE RELEASE
September 11, 1999

Rep. Conyers Commemorates Murder of Democracy Proponent During Visit to
Haiti

	(Port-au-Prince, Haiti) -- Congressman John Conyers, Jr., Ranking
Member of the House Judiciary Committee and Dean of the Congressional Black
Caucus, made the following statement today in connection with his visit to
Haiti:

"The years of the military government were a sad episode in Haiti's noble
history, and I will always remember the murder of Antoine Izmery as one of
the most tragic chapters.  It is especially upsetting to me that families
and friends are still crying out for justice.  I have resolved to ensure
that the U.S. Government is doing everything it can to advance
accountability for victims of the coup in Haiti.  Haiti deserves peace,
prosperity, and a final reconciliation."

	Antoine Izmery was killed on September 11, 1993, while giving a mass
in the memory of those who died from government repression.  Both he and his
brother, Georges Izmery, who was also murdered, were both strident critics
of the military regime and proponents of democracy.

	Rep. Conyers is in Haiti leading a bi-partisan delegation from the
U.S. Congress looking at election preparations and human rights issues.  The
other members traveling with the delegation are Reps. Tom Campbell (R-CA),
Donald Payne (D-NJ), Earl Hilliard (D-AL) and Delegates Eni Faleomavaega
(D-AS) and Donna Christian-Christensen (D-VI).  

#  #  #  #